Fuel pump



March l5, 1932.

G. B. TROST FUEL PUMP Filed May 22. 1930 4 sheets-sheet 1 -Imf YENTDE TT DRNEYE March 15, 1932. G. B, TROST 1,849,856

FUEL PUMP Filed May 22. 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 l x 'TTCJRNEYE G. B. TROST March 15, 1932.

EUEL .PUMP

Filed May 22. 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 E W TTCIRNEYE March 15, 1932. G E,- ,Ros-.f 1,849,856

FUEL BUMP Filed May 22, 1930 4 Sheets-sheet 4 INVEN T El E,

AW# W T TDENEYE 'die Patented Mar. 15, 1932 escasa: B. meer, or esame; immo-is FUEL PUMP Application led May 22, 1930. Serial No. 454,554.

coiitainer 'until nally difai'ned.`

Another V'object lies in theprovis'ion of a coin controlled fuel pump', said pump including mechanism operating 'automatically to first drain fhepunip and thereafter operating to replenish thepump preparatory to a subsequentjop'eration of the coin control device.

Still 'another object lies inthe provision of acoin controlled fuel dispensing device, said dispensing'devic'e comprising mechanism for preventing operation of the pump unless operated in a Vdetermined manner, said mechani's'in automatically operating to prevent replenishingof the pump until a complete cycle of operation "has occurred.

, A; further' object lies in the provision of' a fuel pump adapted to be coin controlled, there being inclu-led 'mechanism operating in connection with the coin control means for preventing' replenishing of the pump vas well as l" operation of the coin control mechanism for subsequent ope-ration until the fuel container has been completely drained and the coin control mechanism and operating means returned to ar position satisfactory for a subsequent proper operation of the pump. Y

Other objects will lappear in the following specification, taken in connection with the annexed clrawings, in `whieh Fig. l is an elevational view of the pump;

2 is a similar view from a different fifa-5216iV BY isross-sectional View taken on the linge-e-St of Fig. l 1

Fig. 4 isacrossQsectional view taken on the lin?, 4*-.4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is across-sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 6; y

Fig. l6A is va sectional Glo ol' Fig. l;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the pump operating view talren on the line mechanism; including the electric motor and i fuel replenishing means;

Fig. 8 isa detailed elevational view of the coin control mechanism; l f

Fig. 9 is al detail showing of a portion of the coin control and pump-,operating mechamsm; p

Fig. 10 is a `detail showing ofthe fuel hose hanger member showingfits' connection with the pump operating mechanism; Y f

Fig. 11S is another elevational view ofthe coin control'devi'ce showing a' different posir` tion of operation; y p I is a detail showing similar totliat4 of Fig. 9 but disclosing-the coin control mechanism and pump operating control means in another of its positions; p

Fig. 13V is another detail Vshowing of `the` operating relationship vof the pump hosesup'- porting mechanism and the fuel pump operfating means; i v p p l y Fig'. lill is adetail showing of the electrical' control mechanism for the fuel replenishing pump and power means; and Y.

` Fig. 15 is a similar View showing said mechanism in a different operating position.

Before referring to the drawings, it might be stated that the present invention is directed to the mechanism for controlling a con'-` ventional fuel pump by automatic means ini'- tially operated by a coin control mechanismg The structural features of gasoline fuel y pumps arevwell known to the public, and their'v operation is generally' associated with a paid operator, who removes the hose from its support andplaces same" in the opening in the motor vehicle gas tank fand thereafter manually operates means for placing the desiredamount lof fuel inthe tank. Appli-v cant, recognizing the fact thatV such operation of a'gasoline pumprmust necessarily be at? tended by considerable overhead, has devised mechanism which permits the operation of a fuel pump by means 'of acoin control member. In other words, the owner or operator of the motor vehicle may drive' his machine to a point adjacent the pump; thereafter act ing asthe operator for illing his gas tank with the desired quantity of gasoline.

Itis true that a gasoline pumpV operated by a coin control necessarily places vcertain inanual labor upon the owner of the motor vehicle, who must remove the cap from the fuel tank, place the nozzle of the gasoline hose therein, thereafter placing a coin in the coin control member and operating the coin handling lever. Y Y

Although such manual operationis not necessary when receiving gasoline from a manually operated pump,never theless it Vmust be remembered that by the obviouslreduction of the necessary overhead that must 'bev added to the price ofthe gasoline when'delivere'd.. by arpaid operator, the owner of the motor vehicle is materially aided inthe reduced cost at which he may obtain his fuel. Further, gasoline stations are in practically every instance closed during the evening and night hours, thus opening a field for a coin controlled gasoline pump, whichmaterially aids and assists that portion of the public which must Vrefill their motor vehicles duringV the.

y the flexible hose 14 which has the convention al nozzle member, not shown, adapted to be placed .in the motor vehicle tank prior to the draining of the gasoline container. In the drain is disposed a valve 15 spring tensioned upon its seat by means of the stem 16 and coil spring connecting portion there- Y for 17. The valve stem 16 Vhas been extended in the present instance, as willbe later de scribed, to connect the operation of the valve 15 with the coin controlled mechanism for the pump.

. Meansfor refilling thecontainer 11 when drained is provided in a verticallypositionedV fuel delivery tube 18,7suitably supported in the framing of the pump, said tube being connected at its lower end to a fuel pump 19 shown in Fig. 7, said pump beingY of Vany desired structure butnecessarily connected-by means of the tube 20 to a fuel reservoir, nott shown. v 1

Means for operating the pump 19 is, in the present instance, accomplishedby the electric Y motor 21 suitablysupported, asis the pump 19, to a support 22 connected'to the pump framing structure 10. Obviously, any type of motor drive might just as well be used for replenishing the fuel pump 19.A It is apparent, however, that when energized the electric motor will oper-ate the pump 19 to flow of gasoline.

force gasoline through the vertical tube 18 into the visible container until the motor is fle-energized. The visible container 11, as pr viously described, is graduated for various volumes of fuel, and there is provided suit 'that thel pumpmay be set manually for any desired volume of fuel. It is apparent Yfrom Vthe drawings thatV the pipe may beset Fig. 2, ywhich is either at the level shown in for ten gallons, or for five or any other volume desired, Y l

'p 'The 'pump mechanism heretoforev described, is vpractically'conventional to manually operated gasoline pumps andfurther, it will be noted that there isf provided a pivoted switch member 2li which has electrical connection 2,5 with the electric motor 21. This switch is controlled by means of a vertically disposedV rod'26, which projects upwardly'within the.

visible container and is surroundedby the column 27, which has a water-tight connec? tion with the base of the container. This rod 26 is secured at its upper end to a float memf ber 28 operated obviously by the volume of gasoline within the container. Theswitch 24 has an operating arm 29`which is adapted to be moved vin one directon, namely, downwardly, to accomplish the energizing of the`v electric motor, with the resultant vpumping of the gasoline into a visible container and may be moved in the other direction into an elevated or off position, which de-energizes the motor upon' the filling of the visible container to the proper volume. The connection between the switch operating arm` 2 9r and the rod 26 is shown'in Figs. 14 and 15, in which a switch operating bracket 30 has an adjustable set screw connection 31 with the 26, said bracket'having an adjustable switch operating pin 32 disposed in the lower portion thereof. It is apparent, asl farv as; the operation of the switch mechanism is concerned, that when the float moves `downwardly, as must necessarily be the case as the gasoline is drained from switch arm 26 will be contacted by the switch operating bracket 30 and moved to lsuch downward position as will energize the. elec` tric motor, thus operating to lreplenish the visible container. Similarly, when the visible tank has been replenished with a cer# tain volume of fuel, the float will elevate the the container,'finally the i rod 26, finally causing the pin 32 to elevate switch arm 26 to a position which opens the electric circuit to the motor and stops .the

, such portions.

rmasae 4The overflow'pipe 23-insures the'maintef' nance of vra determined volume of `gasoline withinthe visible container- :It is apparent fromythe above description that the float. 28 has not 'wide' degreeffof movement, andit would seem Vat vlirst glance that after-a short downward movement ofthe float, the fuel pump might be Yenergizedto 'cause replenish-- ment of the; visible container before same is drained. .1 r@lhris is not thefcase, however,as will be seen from fa consideration of'Figs...14 and; 15, wherein it ,appears thata .member is inserted beneath the lower endvof the rod 2.6f which prevents downward movement thereof' to a pointjthat would operate theV switch un-` tilsaid member is removed therefrom. Such memberwi-ll be laterdescribed in connection with theV vdescript-ion vof the coin controlled operating mechanism, and it -is desired atthis time merely to Call attention` generally to such structure -to ola-vinte` any suggestion of mis-description of the operation of the pump.V

The hose `14 is adapted, when the pump is inactivate be positioned uponI a supporting member 33, said member beingpivoted at 34` and, maintained in a normal position-by an abutment portion 35; In Fig. 10, the hose 14 is shown in its inactive position disposed upon the pivotal support 33 therefor.

To the opposite end of the supporting member 38 is connected a rod 36, to which isf fixedly secured a laterally disposed 4bracket v3?',vvhich in turn .has a connection with a tension member 38 normally operating to J move the opposite end of the support 33 downwardly. The weight of the hose'is such as to overcome such tensionand to normally' maintain the support kin the position shown in Fig. 10;-V Such; spring tension, however,

is operable upon elevation of the hose from the support to movesaid member" toa down'- ward position, asl sho-wn in Fig. 13 of the drawings. y l

vThe lower en -l of the rod 3Gy is adapted, as

will later be described, to be seated in the re'- ceivi-ngslot in a portion of the pump .operat-l ingl mechanism for the'purpose of locking said member against lateral' movement -until the hose has againV been placed upon itsl sup port, this of course following the draining of the visible container. Y l I l The relationing of the pump support with the pum-p operating mechanism willbe later taken up in detail following a description of Nowwith respect to the `coin control mechanism and automatic operationwof the pump, a'coin operated mechanism 39' is shown particularly Figs. 6l, 8 and 11mof thewdraswings. The means, for receiving theV coinV has not been shown in absolute detail', jinasmfuch as any coin receiving or coin. control mechanism might. obviouslyT be used.-

TheV presen-nmechanism comprises, however, the-manual control lever 40 normally,

ofzc'ourse, not operative 'until a coinhas been insertedlin the mechanism 39, y'said lever,

as yat `42 in. such manner that the rotatable member'ffll will always be returned to itsnormal position-.r p f The .rotatable member 4l has pivotal link connections 43 'and 44,"the link 44 in its inac-` tive position Ariding beneath the lower end of a locking member generally referred to vat'45, which controls the movement of the pump operating bar and mechanism later to be1described. i Y i f f. f y

VrThis locking member 45 has a slip pivotal connection 46 with the 'pump frame, said locking member normallyV being held in the position shown in Fig'. 9 in a displaced lateral position Yby means.- of'aspring tensioning member 47 ksimilarlyconnected and tensioned `with respect to. the pump frame 10.

' 'Referring now 4to Fig. 12'and assuming` that the operator has placed a coin in the coin control member 39, and moved the operating handle in a clockwise manner, as indicated by the arrows inthe drawing, it willbe noted that the member 41 has been'rotated iirst'in the clockwise manner tothe full linelposition shown in Fig. 12 and thereafter, when released, due'to the tensioning' ofthe member 41, permitting same-to rotate the counterclockwise direction as 'indicated bythe arrow in Fig; 12, with the result that thev link 44 will, during its return movement, Contact the side of the look-ing member 45 and force same against the tension of the spring 4,7 to the dottedV line position shown in Fig. 12.

It isfthoughti apparent from the above de-` scriptionvthatthe position of the locking 5 and 6, wherein it is shown carried in a suit-V able support 50, which permits inward and outward movement,` said movement, however,

being controlled by means of the coil spring4 51 whichis secured at 52 to the inner end of the bar land at its opposite end 53 to the pump framing; In other w0rds,ithe coil 'spring always has a tendency `to withdraw the'bar outwardly.

Upon` the inner end inward movement of said bar to contact and elevate the stem 16 controlling the operation of the gasolinecontainer valve 15.' As a matterof fact, thelower end of they stem is guidedA n the bar 48 is dis#l posed a Ycam face 54 which is adapted `upon' 49' the first instance, for the operator Vto remove Ythe hose from its support 33and place theina supporting member 55 and there is a roller 56 pivoted in the lower end of the valve stem, thus insuring ease of operation ofthe respective parts. Obviously, inner ymanual projection of the bar 48 operates toelevate the vvalve stem 16,' thus removingthe valve l from its seat and permitting gasoline within the visible container to ow through the hose 14 and thence into the vehicle container.`

Yof the rod 36 will finally bereceived in a re,-

ceiving portion or locking notch 57, as shown inF ig. 13. Thus, it. is apparent in the first instance that the control bar 48 will, upon inward movement, ybe locked .by the rod 36 and withdrawal thereof prevented until the iieXible hose has drained the visible tank and been placed'upon support 33, this placement obviously acting to elevate the locking member sertion of the coin in the ycontrol mechanism by the operator and movement of the handle 40 first to the right and then, upon release` Vautomatically. to the left, the operator actuves allymoves the control bar inwardly tocommence operation of the pump, namely, with elevation of the valve to permit HowV of the fuel from the visible container into the tank of his vehicle. Of course, it is necessary in nozzle thereof, not shown, in the motor vehicle tank opening.

Now, with respect to the operationof the` coin control mechanism and the bar 48, it is found that the previously described locking member has a downwardly projectingpor'- tio-n 58, which as previouslywde'scribed had an operative connection with the link 44,

I said member 45 also having afshorter down wardly projecting portion 59, which during.

inactivityof the pump was adapted to be receivedinja locking notch in the :bar 48. Such position of the portion 59 with respect to bar 48 obviously prevents movement of the latter to an inward position, which would of course Velevate the valve for the visible con,-

tainer.' However, following the insertion of a coin in the member 39 and manual movement ofthe lever 40 to the right and then automatically to'theleft, it is apparent that the locking member 45 is moved to the dotted line position shown'in FiglQ, whereupon the portion 59 is removed from the notch 60 and the operator may then force the bar. 48 inkIt is thought clear that following the. in.` y

wardly with a resultant elevation of the valve 15,V due to contact of thecam 54with roller 56. f Coincident with this operation, however, it isapparent that the lower end .of rod 36 will be received in theV notchl 57 in the bar and hold bar 48 in the fixed inward position. Also, coincident with the inward movement of the bar 48, which of course is through the opening 61 in the locking member 45, a second cam member 62 secured as at 63' to the sidek of the bar, will operate upon final inward movement of the member-48 to ride against'the lower side Iof that portion' 59 of the locking member 45, and thus elevate same slightly, such forward movement 4being permitted by the before mentioned sliding piv` otal connection 46 of the locking member 45 with the pump framing. This slight upward movement of the locking member 45 permits thelink 44, which previously in its operation 'forced the locking member' 45l Vlaterally against the tension of the spring47, to resume its inwardipositiomas shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings, namely, beneath the lower end of the port-ion 58 of the locking member 45. This operation insures the movement of the coin control mechanism to a position preparatory for a subsequent operation thereof as well as a subsequent operation of the pump,

The. inward movement of the operating member 48 is also related to the operation of the pump as follows: When the operator inserts his coin and thereafter moves the han- Y dle to the right, thus permitting automatic return of the handle under spring tension to the left, he thereupon Vforces themanual pump control bar 48 inwardly, and thus im mediately starts draining of 'the gasoline in f I the visible container into vhis tank.

Although the float 28 willimmediately start to move downwardly, nevertheless the' eXtreme inner end 64 of` the control bar 48 will assume a position beneath the lower end of the rod 26, which as previously described isconnected with the float 28, thus vas the float moves downwardly, the rod '26 inconnection therewith will soon abut the upper side of that portion 64, which as previously described is at the eXtreme inner end of the bar 48. This obviously'prevents further descent of the float, irrespective of the gasoline within the visiblefcontainer'and ,also prevents such movementv of the bracket`30 upon the .switch arm 29 as will throw said switch'arm to a position that will close the circuit-to the Y electric motor and start movement of the pump to replenish the container. v

As shown in Figs. 14 and 15, the inner end 64 ofthebar 48 is carried in a guide member 65 which is apertured at 66 to Vreceive the lowermost end of the rod 26. It is thus apparent that there can be no replenishing of n the visible container until thebar 48 has'been manually returned to an outer position, which will withdraw the end 64 thereof from bespaanse neath the rod 26. Obviously, there can be no withdrawal of the bar 48 until the hose 14 has been replaced upon the support 33, inasmuch as the rod 86 has become locked by projection of its lowermost end into the notch 57. However, upon draining of the visible container and replacement of the hose 14 upon the sup-` port 88, the rod 36 will be withdrawn from the notch 57 and thus the spring 51, which is connected to the bar 48, will immediately withdraw said bar automatically to an outer position. Y

Immediately upon withdrawal of the portion 64 of the control bar from beneath the rod 26, .said rod will drop into the position shown in Fig. 14. Obviously, this rod 26 will drop because there is no volume of liquid in the visible container to maintain the float in an elevated position. lt is just as abvious that this final drop of the rod 26 will, through its before mentioned connected parts, operate to move the switch arm 29 downwardly, thus closing the electric circuit to the motor, which in turn operates the fuel pump 19 to replenish the visible container through the pipe 18. lhen the visible container has again been replenished to a point of almost total volume, the rod 26 will be gradually elevated until, as shown in Fig. 14 the pin 32 will carry the switch arm 19 upwardly to a position to open the circuit to the electric motor. The switch, however, is not opened by the upward movement of the rod 26 induced by the float 28 until the visible tank has been filled' to its desired volume. Of course, any volume of fuel in excess of the determined amount is carried off by the overflow pipe 23.

As respects the operation of applicants pump, it is clear that same is such as to obviate the necessity ot an attendant ata gasoline filling station. The driver of a motor vehicle .drives his car to a position adjacent the pump. He then gets out of his car removes the cap from the gas tank, removes the hose 14 of the pump from its support 88 and places the nozzle thereof in the opening oi the tank. He then places the proper coin in the coin control member 39 and manually moves the handle 40 in a clockwise direction, thereafter releasing same, with the result that the handle will be moved in a counterclockwise direction, due to the spring 42 in connection with the rotatable member 41.

rlhe action of the link member 44 has been previously described, the same operating to the handle 49 of bar 48 and force said bar inwardly. Bar 48 is immediately locked in its innermost position, due to the fact that the rod 36 in connection with the support 33 for the hose, immediately drops into the notch 57. Also, the cam 54 on the bar 48 elevates the lock-ing member 45, and thus positioning the coin Vcontrol mechanism 'for Aa subsequent proper operation of the pump;

The extremeinner endofthe bar 48, namely member`64, rides beneath the lowerend of the rod 26u11 connection with 'theoat, which prevents the latter from moving sufficiently downwardly to close the electric .connection through the switch 24.

The operator is not able to withdraw :the l bar 48 because of its locked position and thus must of necessity drainthe visible tankprior to replacement of the hose upon its support 38. However, when the tank hasbeen drained andthe hose replaced upon its support 33, rod

36 will be removed from its locking not-'ch 57 and the tension spring 51 will return the bar" 48 to its outer position, it being apparent that the moment the bar 48 has assumed its outer po-sition,thelocking member 45 will immedi-l ately be r'forced laterally by meansof spring 47 to a position where the portion 59 thereof will be disposed in the locking notch 6() in the bar 48. "Thisimmediate locking ofthe bar 48 upon its retraction prevents furtherl operation of the pump until same'h'as not only been replenished but until another coin has been placed in the coin control mechanism. Simultaneously wit'h the automatic withdrawal' of the bar 48 by means of the lspring 51., the rod 26 inconnection with the iioatv member` drops sharply with the result that the switch arm 29 is moved downwardly to energize the electric motor, with a consequent operation of the pump 19 and repl-enishing of the visible container. j

Inasmuch as' the float 28 does not elevate the rod 26 until the visible container has been almost entirely filled, notV only is the switch arm 29 prevented trombeing moved up wardly to a position to stop th-e 'flow of 'gaso-A line but `also a subsequent complete inner movement of the rod 48 is prevented because the end 64 of said rod would pro-ject against' the lower end ot the rod 26. l

lt is apparent from the above description that an operator is thus prevented from losing his money in case a coin is inserted inthe coin control mechanism and the respective operating portions moved prior to a complete replenishing of the visible container.

What l claim is:

1. A fuel pump comprising a container, drain mechanism therefor, a hose member connected to the drain mechanism, a tensioned pivotal support for the hose, and electrically controlled mechanism for replenish- Y ing the pump, including a switch and float member for operating same land-coin control mechanism for operating the pump including a bar member for operating the .drain mechanismfor the pump connection between the coilcontrol mechanism `and bar preventing movement of the bar until operation of the coin control mechanism, locking means for the .bar in connection with the pump hose support and mechanism includingy operative connections between the lioat portion and bar l member for replenishing the container imme diately followingmovement of the bar' to such position that the container drain mechanismis close 2. A fuel pump comprising a container,'a

l drain valve therefor, ahose connected to said drain valve, a pivotal support for the hose, a float member in said container, and electrically controlledmechanism for replenishing said Ycontainer controlled by said float memberand mechanism'for operating said pump includinga manually operable barv member movable to a position to elevate saiddrain valve, vcoin control mechanism controlling the movement of said'bar, locking means in conneotion with the hose support for holding said bar'in such position that the drain valve is maintained in an' Open position as long Aas the hose isrremoved from the support and con-A necting means lbetween the float and manually operable bar member for replenishing the container immediately upon movement of thel bar to a position to close the drain valve.

3. A ,fuel pump comprisinga container, a drain valve therefor, a hose connected to said drain valve, apivotal support Vfor the hose, a float member insaid container, and electrically controlled mechanism for replenishing said container controlled by said float memberand mechanismfor operating said pump including amanually operable bar member forvelevating the drain valve, coin control mechanismV normally holding said bar in Y locked position but operating upon the insertion of a coin to permit movement of said bar to a d'rain-valve-elevating position, connecting, means between the hose support and bar operating to maintain the bar in a drain valve opening position as long as the hose is removed from the support and mechanism Controlled bymovement of the float and operation of the bar to replenish the container following initial draining thereof and replacement of the hose. upon the support.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature. Y GEORGE B. 'TR-OST. 

